by Gareth Collins

Set up on 17 October 1939 from a major reorganisation & expansion of the Führer der Unterseeboote (F.d.U.) & this reorganisation lasted up until the wars end. Apart from the name change there was another major change, tactical command of all U-Boats became the principal role, with organisational control moved to another command. From 04 February 1943, after Dönitz was appointed Oberbefehlshaber der Marine the tasks of the B.d.U. became the direct responsibility of the Ob.d.M..

Befehlshaber

Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (17 Oct 1939-08 May 1945)

Chef des Stabes

Kapitän zur See Karl Hoffmann (06 Jan 1943-05 Feb 1943)

Sources used

Research by Gareth Collins
Erich Gröner - Die Schiffe der deutschen Kriegsmarine und ihr Verbleib 1939-1945, J.F. Lehmanns Verlag, München (1976)
Hans H. Hildebrand - Die organisatorische Entwicklung der Marine nebst Stellenbesetzung 1848 bis 1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück (2000)
Hans H. Hildebrand & Ernest Henriot – Deutschlands Admirale 1849-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück (1989)
Hans H. Hildebrand, Albert Röhr & Hans-Otto Steinmetz – Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe, Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg (1980)
Walter Lohmann & Hans H. Hildebrand – Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine, Verlag Hans-Henning Podzun, Bad Nauheim (1956)

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -